A lottery in Alabama…it's an issue that was defeated during Don Siegelman's time as governor. But have perceptions changed in the past ten years and would a lottery even be successful in our state?
Tonight, we take an in-depth look at the topic, weighing opinions from all sides of this continuing controversy.
The sound of money pouring into the Georgia lottery coffers at the number one lottery ticket sales location in the state...it’s happening at one Shell gas station off Interstate 20 just inside the Georgia border. But there's a major obstacle preventing that from happening in Alabama.
“There is a constitutional prohibition against lotteries in Alabama," said David Barber with the Alabama Anti-Gambling Task Force.
That means voters would have to approve a change to the constitution, which so far has never been successful. Meanwhile, store owner Kendal Robinson says the amount of money being spent on Georgia lottery tickets from Alabama residents may shock you.
"It's probably roughly 60 percent, 60 percent from Alabama," Robinson said.
And it didn't take long to back up his claim.
"We came over 'cause we'd like to win it," said Chris Crum, who drove from Pinson.
The majority of the people purchasing lottery tickets at this location during our recent visit were all from Alabama.
"A lot of people disagree with a lottery. But considering our state is cutting the funding in junior colleges, and a lot of the children in our community is struggling right now trying to pay for school," said Crum.
“If we could get a lottery…something that's going to contribute to funding, then it would make it easier. Some of us can afford to pay for our kids to go to school, but some of us can't," said Dennis Conner of Pinson.
That's the same opinion shared by many folks who actually live in Georgia, and say the benefits of their lottery have been impressive.
"I think it's been good for our state. I know a number of people who have taken full advantage of the Hope Scholarship, the pre-k program, my kids all went through that which was funded by the Georgia lottery, so there are some benefits to it definitely," said Susan Arndt.
But, what may surprise you is how little of the lottery money actually goes to these educational benefits. Dr. John Hill, with the Alabama Policy Institute, has been studying lotteries and gambling for more than a decade. And he says after a huge percentage of the lottery money is used for the cash prizes, another portion is taken out for advertising, transportation, and ticket sellers.
"Only 20 to 30 cents on every dollar in Georgia is going to education," said Hill.
And, Georgia’s is considered one of the best ran lotteries in the country. Hill says the social costs associated with a lottery are enormous as well, in terms of lost wages, lost productivity, and crime because of gambling addiction.
"So even if the state made $250 million a year off some large scale gambling venture, the cost to the state over all would be significantly higher than any kind of monetary benefits it would realize," said Hill.
And, Hill says his research has found it is mostly low-income people who spend the most on lottery tickets because of their hopes to improve their life, dreaming of the big jackpot.
"The zip codes with the poorest per capita incomes were spending the most on lottery tickets. Maybe they thought the money was going to education, and it was, but, their districts got a lot less," said Hill.
Currently, 38 out of 50 states have lotteries. Governor Bob Riley has made his opposition to a lottery very clear and has never budged on his position.
